An explanation

Chapter 15

Sam and Fi were staring down the barrels of two guns, held by Gideon Hunter, hired mercenary killer of CIA agents.

"I should tell you," he warned, with a quick glance at his guns, " I can shoot with either hand. I'm ambidextrous."

"Really? I would give my left arm to be that!" asked Sam sarcastically.

Hunter was not amused.

"You two were pretty hard to track down," stated Hunter, "but I knew sooner or later you'd turn up here."

Fi gestured towards the tortured bloodied body, "Well, you're obviously not much of a people person, especially when it comes to family..."

For a split second, when Hunter took a quick glance over at the dead body of his mother, his expression fell, but he quickly recovered and masked his feeling with a placid expression, "I had nothing to do...with that...when I got here…my mother's body was already in this condition."

She was not moved by his words, "It seems even your poker face is ugly."

The Butcher kept his guns pointed at them

When an opponent has possession of weapons and is pointing them at you, one of three things can happen. A; he fires. B; the gun is wrestled out of his hand, or C; he raises the gun to his head and shoots himself.

Of course, there is one more thing that can happen, but never in a million years does a spy expect plan D, which is why it is not usually included with the other three.

Gideon Hunter, aka The Butcher, the hardened convict, the assassin who has managed to stay one step ahead of authorities, the cold-blooded murderer of numerous CIA agents throughout world... seemingly out of nowhere, allowed both of his weapons to fall to the ground.

Then he slowly lifted his hands up in the air and quietly stated: "I surrender."

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(An hour later)

Peppino spotted Fi's Audi as it arrived at the gate of the compound. Opening the gate, Peppino couldn't help but notice they had a third occupant with them.

Meanwhile, in a tiny, secluded room, Roberto had been watching the ongoing activities on the security cameras. He witnessed Fi and Sam get out of the car. Fi then went over and opened the back door in order to yank someone out from the backseat of the car.

Roberto watched the screen closely. His eyes got larger and his mouth dropped upon recognition of the third occupant. Roberto was now glued to the screen and noted how The Butcher was not shackled by steel handcuffs. No, he merely had his hands tied in front of him by what look like one of Fi's scarves.

"¡Dios mío!" Roberto whispered under his breath as he continued to stare at the screen, "What is this madness?" He quickly retrieved his gun before running out and welcoming his new guest.

By the time Roberto had entered the main room of the warehouse, Fi and Sam were already there. Sam had his gun trained on Gideon Hunter while Fi shoved Hunter down on the sofa. Roberto looked in dismay at his new "guest".

"Mi Amigos...I do not believe it! You, you have Gideon Hunter at last!"

"The one and only," Sam stated, keeping the gun pointed at Hunter.

Hunter was silent, only staring out in front of him.

"Search him!" insisted Roberto, as he also aimed his gun directly at Hunter, "this killer could be hiding more weapons he may use on us!"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Roberto!" claimed Fi, "No knife, no other weapons. I did a very thorough job of searching him earlier. He has the body bruises to prove it!"

At that point Gideon Hunter looked at Fi with disdain, as Roberto looked questionably at Fi and Sam.

"So, what happened?" Roberto asked looking incredulously at Sam and Fi, "How were you able to capture this…no-good murderer?"

"Wish I could say it was a hard fought battle," Sam commented, "but the truth is, when he had the upper hand on us…he just surrendered…"

"Eh? just surrender, you say?" Roberto looked baffled, "What game this hombre playing?"

They turned to look at Hunter who stared ahead expressionless. He had not said a word since he had come in contact with Sam and Fi.

"That is what we are trying to ascertain," said Fi, as she kicked Hunter on the foot, "Hey! Look alive! Talk!"

Although two guns were aimed at Gideon he didn't seem the least bit perturbed.

Fi kicked him again, this time harder.

"I said, TALK!" she repeated harsher.

He spat at her, "B*tch!"

She kicked him in the shins this time, making him grimace in pain,as she addressed him, "The way you say 'B*tch makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!"

"Lay off him, Fi," suggested Sam, "Give him a chance to talk...and if he doesn't, Roberto and me will just leave the room and you can do what you want with him."

Fi looked pleased with that, "Just give me half an hour with him...his mouth will be the only part of him that can function!"

"Humph!" Hunter grunted and turned away from Fi. He did not look troubled at all as he continued staring straight ahead.

That infuriated Fi even more as she started to make a flying leap to him, but Sam and Roberto held her back, which was not an easy thing to do.

"Do you see what's happening here, Hunter?"warned Sam as he and Roberto struggled with Fi, "I don't think I can hold her back much longer and whatever you say, it better be one humdinger of a story!"

At last Hunter turned towards them to speak.

His voice was gruff and stiff, as if every word was causing him pain, "If you must know, I surrendered to you…because…I knew you could help me."

At his surprised announcemnt, Fi had stopped struggling. She indicated that she had calmed down. When Sam and Roberto released her, her eyes were flashing, "Help you? Like the way you helped your mother?"

For a second, there appeared to be a look of hurt in his eyes, but he blinked once and his face became hard once again, "I will say it one time. I was not responsible for that."

"Really?" asked Sam, Because I think it's rather funny about how you described your mother's send off as a 'that'!"

Hunter looked at Sam with murderous eyes, "Enough! Do not speak of her again! I am here for I need your help!"

"Eh? You come for our help you say?" Roberto sounded skeptical, "After all you have done? You are assassin!"

The Butcher shrugged, "Even assassins need assistance at times."

"You deserve nothing, nothing I say!" Roberto ranted, "I knew some of those men you had murdered in cold blood! They were good agents!"

"Can I help it if I am good at what I do?" Hunter asked casually.

Fi couldn't help it. She gave him a backhanded slap across the right side of Hunter's face. She derived pleasure when she saw his head snap back.

"Fi!" yelled Sam.

"That's what he gets for almost killing me!" Fi shouted, before turning back to Hunter, "You must have been out of practice yesterday when you tried to shoot me at the plaza!"

Hunter looked scornful at Fi, "You think you'd be alive now, if I had aimed to kill you? Don't you get it? I purposely missed!"

"Liar!" Fi shouted, "That doesn't make any sense!"

He peered at her, looking somewhat smug, "I got your attention, didn't I? It led you back to the house, didn't it? Believe me, I had everything under my control."

"Too bad you didn't let your mother in on your plans," Sam remarked.

Hunter faced forward again in silence, but there seemed to be a slight quivering of his lower lip.

Fi turned to Sam, "Sam, give me that half an hour alone with him now."

"Fi," said Sam, "Remember…if you are serious about being a spy…spies know how to restrain themselves!"

"I can do that," agreed Fi, "It's not like I will kill him...I'll just make sure the shockwave of my arm passing through him will be enough for him to talk, I promise."

Hunter leaned forward impatiently, "Are you three going to continue playing two-and-a-half bad cops, half good cop, or do you want to hear what else I have to say?"

Fi looked with distrust at Hunter before speaking to Roberto and Sam , "I think he may still be up to something."

"If he is up to something, Senorita, " warned Roberto, "he won't live to carry it out."

Fi nodded knowing, keeping her expression placid, "It's best you keep that in mind, Roberto."

Roberto scowled, "Eh? I keep in mind? What you mean by this?"

His questions were ignored as Sam stepped forward, bent down, and got right into Hunter's face.

"Do you see what's happening, Hunter?" Sam asked, "I think I may be the only understanding one in this bunch, so you better talk fast! I don't think I can hold these two back! If she doesn't beat it out of you, the other guy will confuse the hell out of you. So tell us..why are you here?"

"I told you, I need help," he stated. He managed to keep his voice even, "They're after me. Those SOBs are after me. They have taken me over now."

"Wait…" said Sam, "Who are these SOB's you are referring to?"

"Those corrupt CIA agents who hired me, of course." Gideon Hunter responded, "They are getting more powerful."

"And by saying they have 'taken you over'" continued Sam, "I assume you don't mean in a zombie-like matter."

"Of course not, Sam," Fi answered for the Hunter, "he probably means he is not the one who is in command of his own situation. They are becoming too powerful, even for him."

Hunter looked unaffected, "But you are wrong there again. For remember, I still have in my possession the microfilm that contains all the agents who are involved in these criminal undertakings. And as long as I have the list, I have power over them."

"We do not need list," announced Roberto, "we have you."

"But I will not talk," Hunter stated, "unless you help me."

"No, you will help us!" Fi harshly pointed a finger in his chest, "You had stopped me from completing my mission! I want that book with the microfilm!"

Hunter look forward in silence once again.

"You can be sure, Hunter," Roberto spat the name out, "that we will get that list! ¡Sin duda! My agent friend was killed trying to get it!"

Hunter turned calmly to Roberto.

"The list did not kill McGrath, you fool!" stated Hunter, "It was of his own doing. Remember, your agent was the one that stole the list from me! Don't you see? I was merely getting my own list back."

"Did you have to murder him?" Roberto sounded emotional, "He was good agent! Ah yes, the devil truly lives within you, Senor!"

"Perhaps," said Hunter cold-bloodedly, "But I had no choice. It was either him or me. And now they are after me."

"You understand," declared Sam, "that even if we help you, you will never be a freed man."

"Why do you think I let you bring me here?" Hunter lifted his head high, "I want to go back."

"Back where?" asked Fi, "to hell?"

Hunter gave Fi a reproachful glance.

"To prison," responded Hunter, "After all, I never asked to be taken out."

Sam, Fi and Roberto were stunned as they looked at one another.

"You," Sam asked point blank, "…want to go back to prison?"

Hunter glared at Sam, "I hate repeating myself."

"And I hate you, " said Sam, "but nevertheless, tell us why you want to go back?"

The Butcher puffed his cheeks then slowly let the air out.

"Look, " he explained, "I always work alone. They tell me a name, I seek him out and do my job. No other instructions, no interference. The money is paid in a Swiss account when the job's done. But lately these SOB corrupt agents of yours have been getting in my face; giving me orders, telling me how and when. And when I don't do it their way, they begin threatening me. Threatening me! No one tells me what to do and they can damn well hurt whoever they want, but I go by my own code!"

For the first time, the tone in his voice indicated that he was feeling real emotions now and Fi realized he was recalling what they had done to his mother.

"So you're saying the bad CIA agents did that to your mother as a warning." Fi said quietly.

Hunter had time to get his emotions intact and shrugged, "Probably, to keep me in line, the B*stards."

"Okay, " said Sam, "let's back it up here, so you want to go to the slammer?"

"Bingo!" he explained peevishly, "For trained agents, the three of you are rather slow."

"I'm a trainee agent," Fi announced.

He turned to her with indifference, "And this concerns me, how?"

"Just informing you " Fi warned, "in case, some harm comes to you because of me, I could plead lack of training and inexperience."

But Hunter looked disinterested, "So, are you three going to make sure I get back to prison, or what?"

"Hard to say…" Sam began.

"Do what you need to do to me, then." Gideon Hunter reasoned, "It does not matter. You will never get the list without me. If you keep me here, you will need to keep me here indefinitely, for I will not talk. If you let me loose, who knows, perhaps I may kill other good agents. But send me back to prison and you will not hear from me again. I guarantee it."

Fi was repulsed, "I bet the next thing you'll be saying is that you are rehabilitated and filled with remorse and are tired of killing people?"

He gave her a cold stare, "No, I will never say that."

"Just so that we are on the same page here," Sam interjected, "What's so great about prison?"

"They leave you alone." He explained, "I don't like people. I don't like being controlled. People crowd me. They think they own me. I want to go back and get some peace and quiet."

"Whoa," said Sam, "I didn't see any of this coming at all."

Roberto spoke to Sam, his tone sounding angry, "Mi amigo, how can we even think of helping this…this lunatic killer?"

"I agree," concurred Fi, "prison is too good for him and he's basically asking us to save his pitiful life."

"So what do you two want to do?" asked Sam, "Keep him here forever? Set him free to possibly kill again?"

As the three pondered what to do, Gideon Hunter casually said something that made Fi open her eyes wide in terror.

"Oh one more thing, " Hunter looked to be smiling, but it was actually more a sneer, "I almost forgot to tell you…those bad CIA agents I was referring to previously? The ones who schemed to kill good agents around the world? Who brutally tortured my mother to death?…well, I just thought I'd give you a heads-up… they've now got an agent named Michael Westen in captivity."

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